Good morning dears! What's up? Today is not a morning like any other. As the coffee makes its way through the mocha, let me take you on a journey through time. In fact, this morning we are not setting the table with the usual rusks or the classic orange juice. Today, let's jump into 2050 and find out together what could end up on our breakfast plate.
A changing world
The world is changing, and so is our food. Climate change, population growth and the need for more sustainable food production are transforming the way we grow, produce and consume food. And breakfast, the most important meal of the day, is no exception.
Remember when breakfast meant croissant and cappuccino for some? Or scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, for others? Well, in 2050 that may not be the case anymore. Second Hannah Ritchie, researcher at the University of Oxford, global food production could suffer a 21% drop due to climate change. This means that many of our favorite foods (think chocolate or al coffee, but not only) could become rarer and more expensive. Our fault too: a third of the food it gets wasted, and the food system is already unsustainable.
But don't worry, the future of breakfast isn't as bleak as it seems. Indeed, it could be much more interesting and tasty than we imagine. How about some insects? No, I'm kidding. This is a blog that loathes the insects as food, even if he finds nothing against their adoption, as long as they are far from us.
Welcome, foods of the future
Scientists are working on new ways to produce food that are more sustainable and less dependent on climate conditions. I could mention the famous cultured meat in the laboratory, or the milk produced by yeasts and superfoods like seaweed, rich in nutrients and easy to grow.
So what will breakfast look like in 2050? It might start with a cup of lab-grown coffee, followed by an omelette made with vegetable eggs and a slice of seaweed bread. We could enjoy a glass of milk produced by yeasts, accompanied by a wide variety of vegan cheeses. And for dessert, how about some synthetic honey (we continue with intensive agriculture and this will happen too) or chocolate produced without the use of cow's milk?
The future is a breakfast to discover. Or regret.
Yes, the future of breakfast could be very different from what we are used to. But it won't necessarily be a bad thing, don't make that face. It could be an opportunity to discover new flavours, explore new food cultures and contribute to a more sustainable world – or a way to save what can be saved.
Next time you sit down for breakfast try to imagine what it might be like in 2050. Worst case scenario you enjoy more what is there today, while it is there. By the way: coffee?
